Thank you so much. I become very overwhelmed when I read your posts as what I feel and think is opened before on the page in your words and I am so grateful to find someone that can articulate so beautifully and with such clarity stuff that (like William above) I try desperately to express/communicate.

My parents and their parents were ‘born into’ (’they’ don’t, or didn’t anyway, try and convert people) the strict Brethren religion. Fortunately for me, my parents ‘got out’ of that religion when I was only a toddler (and that leads to much more ’stuff’) and then my father went from that, which is ALL he’s ever known (including being abandoned by HIS father), to the extremes and abandoned and left us all destitute (yep, more ’stuff’ to be dealt with). My mother appeared to have gone with him (life was never the same) and converted to the Baptist religion. She is definitely Conventional Stage; it’s her way or no way.

I remember being forced to go to Church and listen to someone rant and rave (and consequently can’t stand that sort of ‘teaching’) and how boring it was, although I know I picked up some beautiful thoughts, character strengths and memories from the early days of Sunday School. From quite early on, about my teens, I became convinced that there was good and bad in all religions. Somehow, (I don’t remember being taught this) I also become aware that there was a lot more to people that the bad ‘acts’ they undertook. I traveled a lot and now really understand the meaning of the words ‘broaden your horizons’ because I see friends/family that have not traveled and they do not seem to have as much empathy or compassion for others as seasoned travelers do, although I know this is probably not true for all travelers.

For quite some time I felt really inadequate for NOT having a black and white belief, like my mother, or any other person I came across that was adamant about this belief or that belief (or about any other opinion about anything for that matter, not just religion, including what I hear or see in the media or politics or, or, or…..). I felt wishy washy for NOT having something concrete to believe in. I just kept feeling like there were many, many layers to spirituality and many, many layers to the reasons behind the actions people take, even the most atrocious ones (that of course causes me heartache and pain that humans inflict this on themselves and others).

Somewhere, in your posts, I think you mentioned how people usually end up believing what their parents believe. Somehow, amazingly, thankfully, somewhere along the way I have not taken on my parents beliefs and views and so very grateful for that. Now, I feel stronger about my ‘grey beliefs’ that aren’t black and white. I no longer feel wishy washy but grateful for having an open mind and I look forward to much growth and learning under your amazing understanding and care (a newbie to Life Principles Integration Process program and Holosync)

thank you Bill

Glenys

ps and I thank my Mother, whom I love very much, for showing me what NOT to be (and there is lots of ‘stuff’ to deal with around this)
and I thank my Father, whom, after 45years of having no contact with whatsoever, I have reconciled with (yep… and there’s a whole lot more ‘stuff’) for showing me how NOT to behave

FROM BILL: For you to get the distinction, you’d have to understand what it means to be dogmatic. Dogmatism is believing something because a powerful leader or authority figure told you that it’s true. I’m suggesting that you find out for yourself what’s true through your own personal investigation–in this case, meditation or other spiritual practice. What I write about is (hopefully) designed to get people to do their own investigation into who they are, what it’s all about, what is true. I have said over and over: “Don’t believe me. Find out for yourself.”

For some reason, every time I read a blog I feel smarter… But seriously, every time I have a discussion that turns into an argument from a mis-communication issue. It’s like what you said is what I want to tell them.

But how to say “NO!!! no, no, seriously I ment _______, not what you heard”.

How do you fill in the blank with that blog!? lol…

Awesome though, really inspiring when your feeling lazy. Also a good new perspective on the subject of even being lazy in the first place for any task.

What a wonderful post.

I know that this is an old blog post, but I only began listening to you and reading your blog a short while ago.

You did not mention anything about the Baha’i religion in your post, and yet you seem to be, in many ways, a model of the Baha’i teachings.

In case you are not already familiar with the Baha’i faith, I encourage you to look into it. http://www.bahai.org.

You seem to be very much on a path to higher wisdom and enlightened understanding, and if this is the case, then I believe it is important that you and anyone else on a similar journey are at least aware of this religion.

Based on what little I know of you at the moment, I have compiled some of its core teachings in an order that I think might interest you, along with some excerpts from its founders:

-The fundamental unity of all religions

These sanctified Mirrors … are one and all the Exponents on earth of Him Who is the central Orb of the universe, its Essence and ultimate Purpose. From Him proceed their knowledge and power; from Him is derived their sovereignty. The beauty of their countenance is but a reflection of His image, and their revelation a sign of His deathless glory…. ~ Baha’u'llah

-The essential harmony of science and religion

Religion and science are the two wings upon which man’s intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone! Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism. ~ `Abdu’l-Baha

-The importance of independent investigation of the truth

know ye that God has created in man the power of reason, whereby man is enabled to investigate reality. God has not intended man to imitate blindly his fathers and ancestors. He has endowed him with mind, or the faculty of reasoning, by the exercise of which he is to investigate and discover the truth, and that which he finds real and true he must accept. ~ `Abdu’l-Baha

-The equality of the races

He who is the image and likeness of God, who is the manifestation of the bestowals of God, is acceptable at the threshold of God — whether his color be white, black or brown; it matters not. Man is not man simply because of bodily attributes. The standard of divine measure and judgment is his intelligence and spirit…. ~ `Abdu’l-Baha

-The equality of the genders

In reality, God has created all mankind, and in the estimation of God there is no distinction as to male and female. The one whose heart is pure is acceptable in His sight, be that one man or woman. God does not inquire, “Art thou woman or art thou man?” He judges human actions. If these are acceptable in the threshold of the Glorious One, man and woman will be equally recognized and rewarded. ~ `Abdu’l-Baha

I was very impressed with your article about religion. You are the first American I have ever heard make any sense of this topic. I must admit that religious dogma in the US scares me sometimes.